How Solo Journaling Games Helped Me Write Again

How it started: Tumblr RPGs

The first time I remember taking creative writing seriously was when I joined a Harry Potter RPG on Tumblr.

When I was a teenager, there were niche online writing groups tucked into little pockets of Tumblr. Most were fandom-based, but my favorites were the town RPGs. They were more open, more grounded, and full of everyday drama.

I loved the collaborative storytelling. And honestly? It was a relief to focus on just one character.

When writing got “serious”

As I got older, I left the world of Tumblr RPGs behind.

I started taking writing classes, became an editor for a small local publication, and then (suddenly, dramatically) decided I’d had enough of studying English and dropped out of college.

Life evolved.

I started my boring corporate career and settled into a comfortable adult life. I traveled, picked up new hobbies, made new friends, and procrastinated writing the book I’d been trying to write for the past 10 years.

Dungeons & Dragons, and the joy of making worlds

Then Dungeons & Dragons rose in popularity. My friend group caught the bug, and on one quaint seaside vacation we decided it was time to try it.

We bought a starter kit and it was quickly determined I would be the Dungeon Master: creator of worlds and rule-follower supreme.

To be honest, I struggled pretty badly with understanding how any of it was supposed to work. As the person in charge of guiding the group, I really had to strap in and… continue to be utterly confused.

Turns out, there’s a learning curve for tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs).

Undaunted, I spent hours each week planning sessions for my own homebrew game.

It was extremely satisfying.

Falling out of the habit (again)

Unfortunately, all things end.

D&D is hard to keep going when everyone has busy lives. I fell out of the habit of writing again, other than half-hearted attempts to finish my novel.

Then a major life change arrived rather unexpectedly (even though, in hindsight, it was obvious it was going to happen). The dramatic shift in my lifestyle—my day-to-day, my plans for the future—shoved me into a very reflective space.

So, I picked up journaling again.

Enter: solo journaling games

I know—bit of a long road to get here.

But I realized something: as much fun as D&D and those Tumblr RPGs had been, part of the magic was spending time with my friends.

The other thing I was getting out of it was writing and being creative again.

And solo journaling games gave me that creative spark… without the pressure.

Why it worked (for me)

Without the pressure of planning, drafting, and revising an entire novel from start to finish, I could let my imagination run wild.

Settings and characters became a framework for my mind to explore. Instead of worrying about meaning or how I would get to the end, I focused on reacting to what was in front of me:

• A time

• A place

• An encounter

  
  

What can I build with those bricks?

You’re a wood nymph that has been guarding this forest for centuries. A stubborn young boy has stumbled off his usual path after ignoring his mother’s advice. He carries with him a carved wooden horse and the end of a loaf of bread.

You’re a mad scientist that creates strange creatures using stolen bones and a proprietary goop. You’re also close with the king, who insists he has been assassinated and tasks you with uncovering whodunnit. Your first suspect is his young queen who married him to forge an alliance between their two countries on the brink of war.

Your ship was caught in a vicious tempest, dwarfed by waves as tall as mountains. It’s a miracle you are alive. You wash up on the shore of a strange island with even stranger villagers. You begin carving out a life for yourself there, and every time you ease a villager’s woe, you come a step closer to remembering who you are and how to get home.

Having guardrails for a story forced me to think further outside the box than I ordinarily would. It also took away a lot of decision-making, while still letting each story develop into something unique.

The ritual that brought me back

I created a ritual for myself:

• A cup of tea

• My journal

• A soothing playlist

• And one job: write

  
  

Sometimes I’d look up and realize an hour had gone by in a wink.

The whole process sets my mind at ease, especially before bed.

It’s also influenced the way I write in my personal diary. My reflections are often shaped by the storylines I’ve explored.

What it taught me about me

Creative writing isn’t just important to me because it feels refreshing to express myself. It also helps me investigate my own perspective.

Questions I find myself bumping into:

• What does a helpful person look like?

• What about someone who thinks they’re being helpful… but is making everything worse?

• What would I do if I were lost in the woods and had to trust a seemingly well-meaning stranger?

  
  

From player to designer

Solo journaling games became a fun practice in mindfulness and creative expression.

They reminded me how little it sometimes takes to have a calm, enjoyable experience for a few hours just diving into my own world.

Naturally, I started designing my own games.

Want to try solo journaling games?

If you’re interested in getting into solo journaling games:

• Consider joining my monthly Snail Mail Club to receive letters, bookmarks, puzzles, and more.

• Or, check out my itch.io for some of my previously published games.

  
  

Have fun—and revel in your imagination!